The 75th season finale features Verdi’s monumental Requiem in collaboration with the NAU’s
Shrine of the Ages Choir and the Master Chorale of Flagstaff, a work of profound depth and
emotional power that stands as one of the greatest choral-orchestral compositions ever
written. This spectacular concert is a fitting end to FSO’s diamond anniversary season. Join us as
we honor the past, celebrate the present, and look forward to a future filled with more
beautiful music and unforgettable performances.

Verdi’s Requiem

Northern Arizona University

An epic evening of musical adventure that brings the thrilling clash of iconic heroes and villains
to the symphonic stage. This program features breathtaking scores that capture the essence of
timeless battles between good and evil. Luke Skywalker vs. Darth Vader, Batman vs. the Joker,
Superman vs. Lex Luthor, and more. Let the powerful themes of these legendary characters
ignite your imagination and transport you to worlds where the battle between good and evil
plays out in spectacular fashion.

Heroes and Villains: A Symphonic Showdown

An evening of romance and musical featuring some of the most beautiful music ever composed
and three stories of star-crossed lovers. Saint-Saëns sets the tone with vibrant rhythms and lush
orchestration. Delius offers a serene and idyllic interlude. The orchestra then delves into the
profound emotions of Wagner’s “Prelude and Liebestod,” a masterpiece that explores the
transcendent power of love and desire. Debussy’s Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun is erotic
and dreamlike, evoking a sensual, otherworldly atmosphere. Rachmaninoff’s “Rhapsody on a
Theme of Paganini”; showcases the composer’s ability to blend dazzling piano technique with
lyrical expression.

Romantic Rhapsody

The annual tradition is back! Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Ballet – A Flagstaff holiday tradition featuring the NAU Community Music and Dance Troupe is on December 6th and 7th of this year!
The Nutcracker Ballet comes to life with a festive and enchanting performance that tells the story of Clara’s magical Christmas Eve adventure, featuring whimsical characters, dazzling dance scenes, and Tchaikovsky’s unforgettable music.

The Nutcracker Ballet

An unforgettable evening as FSO showcases the talents of its own principal percussionist.
Glinka’s Overture to Ruslan and Lyudmila sweeps you into the world of Russian folklore.
Ewazen’s beautiful Concerto for Marimba and String Orchestra showcases the marimba’s
unique voice and Hanner’s artistry. Brahms’; Symphony No. 2 provides a calm counterbalance to
the evening’s earlier excitement.

Marimba Magic and Brahms

The 75th season opener brings the power and passion of great orchestral dance music to life,
beginning with Ginastera’s vibrant portrait of Argentina. Elgar’s Cello Concerto, featuring new
NAU professor Karlos Rodriguez, captivates with its heartfelt expression and virtuosity. Ravel’s
dramatic reflection on the waltz evolves from a graceful dance into a whirling, almost
nightmarish vision. Finally, Tchaikovsky’s Suite from “Swan Lake” conjures the magic and
mystery of the beloved Russian fairy tale.

Dance Masterworks & Elgar Cello Concerto

Join us for our biggest fundraiser of the year to launch our milestone 75th season, Sippin’ with the Symphony! The evening includes food and drink from local restaurants, breweries, and wineries, a live symphonic experience, our annual auction, and dancing to a live DJ! All proceeds support upcoming concerts, musician pay, and community outreach and education programs.

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Sippin’ with the Symphony

Flagstaff Pulliam Airport

The Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra is back on the lawn at Pepsi Amphitheater for our annual Flag Fourth concert! This family-friendly patriotic pops concert is perfect for all ages, free of charge, and open to the public. Bring your blankets and lawn chairs, as well as your appetite – Sunshine Bowls and Flyin’ K BBQ food trucks will be there serving you up some delicious food!
This is a free non-ticketed event.

A Flag Fourth

Fort Tuthill County Park

The Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra celebrates its 75th Anniversary Season in 2024- 2025. Through the years, the FSO’s purpose has remained the same: to share beauty and inspire joy; to create meaningful experiences for families, friends, and neighbors; and to help cultivate generations of artists, educators, and leaders through its music education programs.

Beethoven 5k Run!

The Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra is approaching its 75th Anniversary Season in 2024-2025. Join us for a journey through time that celebrates three quarters of a century of music-making. From its humble beginnings when a group of women, led by Emma Babbitt, sponsored programs in the opera house on the second floor of the Babbitt building, to becoming a cornerstone of cultural heritage in Northern Arizona, this talk explores the rich history, transformative performances, and enduring impact of the FSO.

75 Years of Song: A History of the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra

East Flagstaff Community Library Room

To conclude the season, FSO presents captivating music and mesmerizing visuals to celebrate two groundbreaking works by contemporary women composers. Mary Watkins; Five Movements in Color is a poignant and powerful reflection on the African-American experience, certain to stir the hearts of all who listen. Jocelyn Hagen’s Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci, featuring Shrine of the Ages Choir and Master Chorale of Flagstaff, immerses you in the artist’s unique genius. This awe-inspiring multimedia concert experience masterfully combines live music with cutting-edge video syncing technology. Witness the brilliant sketches and words of da Vinci come to life before your eyes in a dazzling display of artistry and innovation.

Visionaries in Sound and Motion

Shakespeare’s timeless masterpiece comes to life in a special one-of-a-kind performance featuring actors from the Flagstaff Shakespeare Festival. Felix Mendelssohn’s music written for the play brings together the FSO, NAU’s Vox Astra choir, and the NAU Community Music and Dance Academy’s ballet program. Join us for this huge, festive community celebration of the arts!

A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Felix Mendelssohn / William Shakespeare

Powerhouse vocalist, Broadway veteran and concert favorite Morgan James brings the classic sounds of Memphis to a full symphony orchestra. This program is a love letter to one of the great American birthplaces of soul, featuring brand-new arrangements of Memphis classics by Al Green, Otis Redding, Ann Peebles, Sam and Dave, and, of course, Elvis. Morgan rounds out the evening with her own Memphis soul originals and storytelling. Hear your favorite soul tunes come to life in a brand-new way that will have you dancing and singing along!

Symphonic Soul: Morgan James

The Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra is proud to present Serenade for Strings  online, beginning March 13, 2021 at 7pm.</h3>
Serenade for Strings will showcase the talented string section of the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra, marking their first performance together since the pandemic began.

Serenade

Warmly welcomed back to Flagstaff after her triumphant debut with FSO in 2015, Rachel Barton Pine performs the virtuosic Saint-Saëns violin concerto. The tone of the Chicago violinist, playing a prized 1742 Guarneri instrument that is on permanent loan to her, is described as an “excellent glass of red wine—full-bodied, rich and complex.”
Renowned German organist and composer, Anton Bruckner (1824-1896), nicknamed his fourth the “Romantic” symphony. It is one of Bruckner’s most popular works since its first performance in 1881, when the composer was called out to take a bow after each movement. The work opens with a simple horn solo meant to announce the day from a town hall, and rapidly grows into a melodically complex composition redolent of medieval romance.

Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra

Apr 18, 2025

Verdi’s Requiem

Mar 22, 2025

Heroes and Villains: A Symphonic Showdown

Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra